Shelf supporting arrangement



1951 R. J. CARBARY SHELF SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENT Filed 001;. 11, 1950 Figl.

' His Attorn i Patented Oct. 2, 1951 Richard J. Carbary, I lrie, Pa... assignor to General ElectricCompany, a corporation of New York Application October 11, 1950, Serial No. 189,659

My invention relates to shelvesand more particularly to supporting arrangements therefor.

For some purposes, it is desirable to provide shelves which may be locked in position so as not .to be moved inadvertently from their assembled position. At the same time, for cleaning or other purposes, it may be desirable to remove the shelf from time to time. By wa of example, a shelf used as acover for a food storage receptacle in arrangements such as those disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 182,489, filed August 31, 1950, and assigned to the assignee of the present application, may be considered. Food storage receptacles of the. type shown in the above copending application have a tendency to tilt when partially withdrawn from the cabinet, and it is therefore necessary that the covering shelf be locked in position so as not to move upwardly when the receptacles tilt. The arrangement disclosed in the present application is suitable for such use since the shelf may be positively locked in fixed position and at the same time the shelf is made readily removable when such removal is desirable for cleaning or other purposes.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved arrangement for removably supporting a shelf and for locking the shelf in position.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved arrangement for positively looking a shelf in assembled position and at the same time permitting easy removability thereof when desired.

Further objects and advantages of my invenwhich characterize my invention will be pointed.

out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

In carrying out the objects of my invention, a channel member is secured to thefront edge of the shelf and shelf supporting assemblies are provided on spaced Walls at each end of this channel member at the forward portion of theshelf. Each assembly includes a stud projecting into the channel member and supportin the shelf, and a rotatable element adapted to be moved from one position wherein the shelf may be slid out for removal to a second position wherein such sliding movement of the shelf is prevented and the shelf is positively held in assembled position.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying 4Claims. (01. 312-351) drawing in which Fig. tion of a refrigerator cabinet. incorporating an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is an en larged plan view, partly in section, of a portion of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation view corresponding to the plan view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an end view showing the elements in aposition wherein re,- moval of the shelf is permitted; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the elements in a position wherein removal of the shelf is prevented; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of one of the rear spaced liner 3 which includes a rear wall 4 and two. side walls 5 defining a food storage compartment 6. A. breaker strip 1 is provided for closing the opening between the outer wall 2 and the liner 3 adjacent the access opening of the.

refrigerator.

Within the food storage compartment, *5, there. is positioned a shelf 8. This shelf may be :any one of several shelves used with the conventional re:- frigerator for supporting articles stored in the.

food storage compartment 6, or it may also act.

as a cover for food storage receptacles of the type disclosed in my aforementioned copending application, Serial No. 182,489. In the form illus.

trated. the shelf 8 is made of a sheet of glass.

or plastic material, but it will be apparent that; any other suitable article-supporting material may be employed. The shelf is supported within the food storage compartment 6 by two sup-. ports 9 mounted on the rear Wall. 4 of the liner and two shelf support assemblies In each mounted ona corresponding one of the side walls 5 at the forward portion of the compartment 6.

Each of the supports 9 is formed with a recess or slot 9a approximately the same size as: the thickness of the shelf 8, thereby providingqa horizontal ledge or element ll upon which the shelf 8 rests in its assembled position and a:

spaced upper horizontal ledge or element I12 which is adapted to overlap the upper surface of the shelf 8 in its assembled position. Thus, when the shelf is in its assembled position, it is. retained against both downward and upward movement of.

the rear edge by the supports 9. Each of the supports 9- is secured to the rear wall 4 of the"- liner by a screw or other suitable fastening device l3 engaging a nut strip H which is welded on" otherwisesecured to the rear wall]. I

1 is a plan view of a pernel member I 5 is mounted on the forward edge of the shelf 8. The ends l6 of the channel member I5 extend beyond the sides I! of the shelf. Each of the shelf support assemblies I includes a stud I8 and a surrounding cup-shaped member I9 mounted on the stud I8. The stud 18 includes a threaded end 20 which extends through an opening 2| formed in the side wall of the liner. A nut or other suitablefastening device 22 engages the threaded end of the stud to hold the stud in assembled position on the liner. The stud I8 further includes a shoulder 23 adapted to bear against the interior of the side wall 5, a washer 24 being interposed between the wall and the shoulder, if desired. To provide for rotatably supporting the cup-shaped member IS in its assembled position, the stud l8 further includes an enlarged portion 25 spaced from the wall 5. The cup-shaped member l9 includes a bottom 26 which is positioned between the wall 5 and the enlarged portion 25 of the stud. The bottom 26 includes an opening 22' of substantially the same diameter as the section 28 of the stud so that the surface of thecup-shaped member 59 adjacent the opening 2? is adapted to rotateonthe section 28 as a bearing surface. member [9 further includes a circumferential wall 29 which extends in spaced relationship to the stud l8 and surrounds both the stud l8 and the end 16 of the channel member l5. To provide for removal of the shelf, the circumferential wall 29 of the cup-shaped member l9 has an opening 39 formed therein. The opening 38 is of sufiicient length that it extends beyond the end [6 of the channel member [5 and is of a height greater'than the height or thickness of the channel member [5, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The operation of the shelf and its associated support assemblies is as follows. In its assembled position, the forward portion of the shelf is supported by the studs E8 of the shelf support assemblies I0, each of the studs l8 being received within a corresponding projecting end of the channel member 15 so that the channel member I5 rests on and is supported by the studs 18. When it is desired to slide the shelf 8 forwardly for removal from the cabinet, the cup-shaped member IQ is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position, the opening in the circumferential wall of the cup-shaped member 19 is positioned forwardly of and in alignment with the forward edge of the channel member I5. As can be plainly seen in Figs. 3 and 4, in this position of the elements of the shelf support assemblies, the shelf 8 may be readily slid forward and withdrawn from the food storage compartment 6. When the shelf 8 is returned to its assembled position within the cabinet with the rear edge of the shelf 8 being disposed between the spaced horizontal ledges H and I2 of the rear supports 9, the cup-shaped member 59 is then rotated, for example, to the position shown in Fig. 5. In this position, it can be seen that the opening 30 is positioned so that a solid portion of the cir-,

therefore prevents accidental forward movement of the shelf which might result in its accidentally falling off its supports or, in the case of the application of this shelf to food storage recep- The cup-shaped tacle arrangements of the type disclosed in my aforementioned copending application, Serial No. 182,489, in the upward movement of the shelf with the result that food storage receptacles could inadvertently slide forwardly out of the compartment 6. It will be seen, therefore, that by a simple arrangement including an easily rotatable cup-shaped member [9 the shelf 8 is positively locked in its assembled position and yet it is easily removable from the cabinet when desired. While the cup-shaped member in Fig. 5 has been shown rotated from the position in Figs. 3 and 4, it will be apparent that it need be rotated from the position of Figs. 3 and 4 only by an amountsufficient to move the opening 30 out of alignment with the forward edge of the shelf.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described and I intend, by the appended claims, to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A shelf and a supporting arrangement therefor including spaced parallel walls, said shelf being adapted to be supported by said walls, a channel member secured to the forward edge of said shelf, a shelf support assembly mounted;

on each of said walls at each side of the forward edge of said shelf, each of said shelf support assemblies including a stud projecting into its,

shaped member being rotatable between one po- 1 sition wherein said opening is positioned forwardly of and aligned with the forward edge of said channel member for permitting removal of said shelf and a second position wherein said opening is positioned out of alignment with said forward edge of said channel member to prevent j removal of said shelf.

2. A shelf and a supporting arrangement there;-

for including spaced parallel walls, said shelf being adapted to be supported by said walls, a

shelf support assembly mounted on each of said walls at the forward edge of said shelf, a channel member secured to the forward edge of said;

shelf with the open face of said channel facing rearwardly, each of said shelf support assemblies including a stud adapted to be received within a: corresponding end of said channel member forsupporting said shelf, said stud including an enlarged portion spaced from said wall, and a cup-shaped member mounted on said stud and rotatable thereon, said cup-shaped member including'a bottom portion retained between said,

wall and said enlarged portion of said stud, said cup-shaped member further including a circumferential wall surrounding said stud and said end of said channel member, said cup-shaped member having an opening in said circumferential Wall for permitting passage of said end of said: channel member, said cup-shaped member being rotatable between one position wherein said opening is positioned forwardly of and in alignment with the forward edge of said channel member for permitting removal of said shelf and a second positionwherein said opening is positioned out of alignment with said forward edge of said channel member to prevent removal of said shelf.

3. A shelf and a supporting arrangement therefor including spaced parallel walls, said shelf being adapted to be supported by said walls, a channel member enclosing the forward edge of said shelf and having its ends extending beyond the sides of said shelf, a shelf support assembly mounted on each of said walls at each side of the forward edge of said shelf, each of said shelf support assemblies including a stud projecting into its corresponding end of said channel member and a cup-shaped member rotatably mounted on said stud and including a circumferential wall surrounding said stud and said end of said channel member, said cup-shaped member having an opening in said circumferential wall for permitting passage of said channel member, said cupshaped member being rotatable between one position wherein said opening is positioned forwardly of and aligned with the forward edge of said channel member for permitting removal of said shelf and a second position wherein said opening is positioned out of alignment with said forward edge of said channel member to prevent removal of said shelf.

4. A refrigerator cabinet or the like including a liner defining a food storage compartment, said liner including a rear wall and two side walls, a shelf adapted to be removably supported in said compartment, a channel member secured to the forward edge of said shelf, and means for supporting said shelf including a support mounted on said rear wall and two support assemblies each mounted on a corresponding one of said side walls at the forward edge of said shelf, said support including a bracket for engaging the bottom of said shelf and an element engaging the top of said shelf at the rear portion thereof for preventing upward movement of said rear portion of said shelf, each of said shelf support assemblies including a stud projecting into its corresponding end of said channel member and a cup-shaped member rotatably mounted on said stud and including a circumferential wall surrounding said stud and said end of said channel member, said member having an opening in said circumferential wall for permitting passage of said channel member, said cup-shaped member being rotatable between one position wherein said opening is positioned forwardly of and aligned with the forward edge of said channel member for permitting removal of said shelf and a second position wherein said opening is positioned out of alignment with said forward edge of said channel member to prevent removal of said shelf.

RICHARD J. CARBARY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,143,268 Hokanson Jan. 10, 1939 2L 9 sm e M 27, we 

